High-ranking Cleric Wants Iran To Withdraw From Nuclear Treaty

September 20, 2003|By Nazila Fathi The New York Times

TEHRAN, Iran — An influential cleric suggested on Friday that Iran opt out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, adding to signs that the difference over Iran's nuclear policy is increasing among Iranian authorities.

The head of Iran's nuclear energy agency, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, told an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting this week that Iran would continue working with the agency and was fully committed to its obligations within the treaty.

But Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the powerful Guardian Council, which is responsible for approving parliamentary bills before they can become law, said the demand by the international agency to allow unrestricted access to its inspectors was "extra humiliating."

"What is the problem with withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty?" asked Jannati during Friday prayers. "North Korea withdrew from the treaty. Many other countries have not even signed it."

Reuters reported, meanwhile, that Britain, Germany and France defied the United States last month by offering Iran the prospect of sharing technology if it stopped its disputed nuclear fuel enrichment program and accepted tougher U.N. inspections.

Western diplomats said a joint letter from the three countries was delivered to Tehran in early August despite intense lobbying by Washington.

A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said he could confirm a letter had been sent to Iran, but he said it did not include any offer to cooperate on other issues.